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'Quiet' Makari Paige is ready to lead as a Michigan captain

Chris Balasby:Chris Balas•08/22/24•

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Michigan Wolverines football safety Makari Paige is a Michigan captain. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports)
Michigan Wolverines football safety Makari Paige is a Michigan captain. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports)

Michigan veteran Makari Paige was extremely impressive at Big Ten Media Day, especially for a guy who has a reputation of being “quiet.” Defensive coordinator Wink Martindale told us this summer, in fact, that he needed his safety to be more vocal, especially in Rod Moore‘s (knee injury) absence.

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But his teammates clearly have the confidence in him to lead, whether it’s by example or with his voice, having voted him one of four captains on Team 145. He’s had his mind set on it for a while, and he’s excited to uphold the high standard.

“It’s a great honor, being a Michigan man. It’s one of the greatest honors you can get coming here, and it’s very important to look like that,” Paige said Thursday, acknowledging his role on the field has become more important since Moore went down. “It was a very sick [feeling] like seeing him hurt … he’s a great player, and seeing one of the great players go down like that at practice … it got quiet.”

He hasn’t had to do much more talking when he’s not on the field, he noted, given that Moore is around and also a captain. And that’s probably a good thing, since it’s not his style. He plans to continue doing what he’s done and being who he’s been the last few years.

What that is — a player who has progressed from being a great practice player to a solid, then good. Now, he’s hoping to be not just a great player, but also a worthy Michigan captain despite not being the most outspoken guy in the room.

“I’m not too loud,” Paige said. “Honestly, I feel like if I talk, they listen … because I don’t talk too much. But yeah, I can lead by example, for the most part. I’ll be there at my best. I don’t feel like I’m going to be a ‘yell’ guy.”

But he is going to make his message clear, he added — that this team has huge goals despite the turnover. All they know is championships, and they want to continue that tradition. They expect to win every game, they noted, and they’re working toward that end with what should be an elite defense.

Paige’s evolution as both a player and a leader will be a big part of it if they do, and he can’t wait to get the season started.

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